# Name the top 15 Star Wars Characters
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 16, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536 "2005-06-16T13:51:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/1 "2005-06-16T13:51:10Z")
I need it for a puzzle. Over the whole six-film arc, which are the most significant characters?
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### Author:  [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/2 "2005-06-16T13:58:29Z")
In no specific order, here’s what my top 15 would be:
1. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (unless they count as separate characters, which I doubt)
2. Emperor Palpatine
3. Padme Amidala
4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
5. Yoda
6. Luke Skywalker
7. Princess Leia
8. Han Solo
9. Chewbacca
10. C3PO
11. R2D2
12. Lando Calrissian
13. Jabba the Hutt
14. Boba Fett
15. Mace Windu
Other possibilities: Jar-Jar Binks, Grand Moff Tarkin, Jango Fett, Wicket the Ewok
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/3 "2005-06-16T13:58:33Z")
[ol]
[li]Luke Skywalker[/li][li]Leia Organa[/li][li]Han Solo[/li][li]Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker[/li][li]C-3PO[/li][li]R2-D2[/li][li]Lando Calrissian (sp?)[/li][li]Emperor Palpatine[/li][li]Obi-Wan Kenobi[/li][li]Yoda[/li][li]Mace Windu[/li][li]Qui-Gon Ginn[/li][li]Jango Fett[/li][li]Boba Fett[/li][li]Jabba the Hutt (why not?)[/li][/ol]
Okay, so I was reaching on the last few, but I’m sure someone’ll come in here and tell me who I forgot.
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/4 "2005-06-16T13:59:34Z")
How did I forget Padme and Chewie?
:smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack:
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/5 "2005-06-16T14:03:42Z")
Luke
Leia
Han
Chewie
Obi-Wan
Anakin / Darth (one or two?)
Palpatine
Yoda
C3P0
R2-D2
Padme
Boba Fett or Jango Fett
Jabba the Yurt
Mace or maybe Qui-Gon
Lando
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### Author:  [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/6 "2005-06-16T14:21:46Z")
Hey, let’s start some controversy here, okay? IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE (with alternative names for Twickster’s crossword composing needs):
1. Darth Vader/ Anakin Skywalker
2. Obi-Wan/Ben Kenobi
3. Padme
4. Luke Skywalker
5. Leia Organa
6. Yoda
7. Emperor/Senator Palpatine
8. Qui-Gon Ginn
9. Han Solo
10. Mace Windu
11. Chewbacca/Chewie
12. Lando Calrissian
13. C3PO
14. R2D2
15. Ji Mi Smits Organa
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/7 "2005-06-16T14:25:20Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#):
>
> Hey, let’s start some controversy here, okay? IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE (with alternative names for Twickster’s crossword composing needs):
Thanks, hon! 😉
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### Author:  [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/8 "2005-06-16T14:40:00Z")
I used “who is most integral in moving the plot forward?” as my criterion.
My list would be (in order, roughly):
1. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
2. Luke Skywalker
3. Obi-Wan Kenobi
4. Palpatine/Darth Sidious
5. Yoda
6. Padme Amidala
7. Leia Organa
8. Han Solo
9. Shmi Skywalker
10. Qui-Gon Jinn
11. Lando Calrissian
12. Jabba the Hutt
13. Mace Windu
14. Boba Fett
15. R2-D2
Some major characters (Chewbacca and C-3PO) were around a lot but actually didn’t do a whole lot of particular significance.
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### Author:  [@MMI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MMI)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/9 "2005-06-16T14:44:16Z")
I would think that Greedo would lend himself to amusing clues. Not a huge character, but big enough that most should know him.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/10 "2005-06-16T14:52:50Z")
It’s actually not for a crossword; it’s for a Crypto-Clan (encoded list of 10 items, plus an example). I asked for 15 so I can throw out any with unkeyed letters. (For instance, the “Q” in Qui-Gon Jinn – but I could match that “J” with the one in Jabba the Hutt.) I also need to throw out any with numbers, like R2-D2 and C-3PO.
That’s why I want 'em famous – they’ve got to be names that even casual fans (if that’s not an oxymoron 😛 ) would recognize.
Thanks, all – keep posting, I’ll tally the votes later.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/11 "2005-06-16T14:57:26Z")
In order of importance, how can you possibly put Luke Skywalker anywhere other than first or second? What’re ya smokin’?
The first trilogy (e.g. Star Wars, ESB, and ROTJ) is ABOUT Luke Skywalker. He’s the main character. The main character cannot be less important than a supprting character like Yoda.
Clearly, the characters can be grouped into five groups,m which in rough order of importance are:
THE MAIN CHARACTERS: Darth Vader/Anakin and Luke.
THE MIRRORS: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo
THE ROMANTIC INTERESTS: Padme and Leia
CRITICAL SUPPORTING CHARACTERS: C3PO, R2D2, Chewie, Yoda, Qui-Gon, Emperor Palpatine, Lando.
OTHERS: Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, the little guy with wings who used to own Anakin and his Mom, Anakin’s Mom, Mace Windu, Jimmy Smits, Darth Maul, Jar-Jar, General Greivous, etc.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/12 "2005-06-16T14:58:02Z")
> [@twickster](#):
>
> I also need to throw out any with numbers, like R2-D2 and C-3PO.
Not necessarily. The character names are often given as Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio (or similar spellings).
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/13 "2005-06-16T15:00:48Z")
> [@MMI](#):
>
> I would think that Greedo would lend himself to amusing clues. Not a huge character, but big enough that most should know him.
I think most people didn’t know (or really care) who he was until he shot first.
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### Author:  [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-top-15-star-wars-characters/308536/14 "2005-06-16T15:04:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> In order of importance, how can you possibly put Luke Skywalker anywhere other than first or second? What’re ya smokin’?
Well, in my defense, let me just say that I really don’t know what I’m talking about.
I don’t think I’ve even seen all the films. (Well, I know I havent seen the new one, but I only think I’ve seen all the others.) I was just trying to get some stuff started to get a good list going for Twickster and what better way than to post some ill-thought opinions on Star Wars?
I didn’t even remember that Padme came equipped with a last name. Amidala. Yeah? I’m a quarter, and my daughter’s a nickel.